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Some questions about the tutorial "Guide: Softmod any wii"

Hi!
My intention is to soft-mod my Wii, I've read yours tutorials "Giude: Softmod any Wii" and "Thinking about hacking a wii? Start here!" but i still have some questions.

1) why in the package in "Guide: Softmod any Wii" is inserted WiiFlow MOD r348 and not WiiFlow MOD 4.2 that I think is the last released? If I start the softmod it's advised that I replace the old version with the new one?

2) In some other tutorials that I've read in this days in the web I saw very different proceedings: someone says that for correct softmodding the Wii it is sufficient to change only IOS 56 and 57 with the d2x cIOS, performing a called "minimal softmod" with the advantages of maintain a untouched original firmware (they label the IOS236 method as "old method"); may I have some explanations about the reasons of the differences between yours method, that seems to install larger number of things and modify the original IOS?

3) All the IOS e cIOS used in the "Guide: Softmod any Wii" are updated o there are some new updates with improvements that you recommend?

4) I've read that to play some newest games is necessary to change the cIOS used by the launcher (black screen on start, game freeze, ecc); are these issues always solvable after Wii softmod or there is the risk to obtain a unstable console in some games?

3. They are the most stable versions available; there are some beta versions, but unless you're directed otherwise they shouldn't be installed (for example, a problematic USB 3.0 device may warrant a try at the beta).

4. Some loaders offer a feature to automatically select the best cIOS. 90% of titles work just fine and as intended under cIOS 249. You could always consult this thread.

1 User Says Thank You nightstah For This Useful Post

About question number 2), maybe i'm a little confused and I will re-read carefully yours tutorials, but i will also try to better explain my query.
In the section "cIOs faq: that this mod install" located in "Guide: softmod any wii" I see several changes in IOS (9, 11, 16, 20, .., 245 - 251, ...); the other tutorials I'm talking about seem install only in IOS 249 and 250 the d2x cIOS v8 final (after the installation of the "Homebrew channel" and the "Bootmii"), maintaining other IOS untouched. I can't understand the reasons for this big differences.

Other questions:
-Restoring a NAND backup created after the installation of "the homebrew channel" and "bootmii" provide the complete restoration of my original system IOS and situation (like "undoing" the softmod) or it's not so simple?
-After the softmod may I continue playing my dvd games launching them from the standard disk channel o I will be forced to use a specific launcher?

It's in the same section you read. It offers a detailed explanation in the "FAQ" immediately after the illustrative SysCheck that you mention.

Restoring via BootMii is only a real option if you have BootMii installed as boot2. Newer Wiis have only an IOS install option. The NAND image is simply a means for a NAND reprogrammer to fix your Wii if you'd brick it. If you have it as BootMii/boot2, it can be flashed back to your NAND. It essentially takes a snapshot of your Wii's NAND at the time of the backup. A restore would revert your Wii's status to an earlier time.

Backups do require a loader; originals can be played via official disc channel.

For question #2 installing ios236. Technically it is not required for most people with the advent of AHBPROT utilization. However, many older apps will still require the patches found in ios236 as not all apps support AHBPROT. Also, in the past some apps utilizing AHBPROT have resulted in bricking the wii when modifying critical system files. For this reason many may prefer the classic method of using a cios for such purposes as it is well tested and reliable. As for your system firmware, this guide install a large amount of patched ios and cios, for a multitude of reasons. However the only changes to your wii system, from startup to system menu would be boot2 bootmii if you can install it, priiloader, and the patched system ios, all of which you want to have. Everything else is not relevant to the function of the wii system, they are used for a multitude of backup loading options and some brick recovery methods. I would not classify this softmod method as minimal or pure, or whatever, it is heavily patched and for many good reasons. Well tested also.

1 User Says Thank You nightstah For This Useful Post

Thanks for yours explanation mauifrog! Now I better understand the reasons of the presence of differences between the two methods! It's also clear that all the patches in yours guide are useful to obtain a stable and tested softmod.
In next days I will softmod my wii, using yours method of course!